Maitland Residents Balk At Tall Buildings

MAITLAND -- After hearing nearly 3 1/2 hours of public comments, City Council members continued deliberating past midnight on a building-height ordinance.

Many residents argued that the downtown master plan did not envision buildings taller than 40 feet, but city officials said the plan contained no true height cap.

"We all were told what our downtown was going to look like," resident Lorrie Weathers said. "The reason we're here is because we're angry -- we feel betrayed."

Council members heard about 50 other people speak before trying to address some of the comments. Concerns mostly were about how the taller buildings would affect schools and roads.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Sascha Rizzo said that the change was proposed because there is no height limit in the downtown area.

But council member Bob Brown called it disingenuous to lead people to believe their only option was the proposed 110-foot height limit.

"We could make an amendment tonight that would make it absolutely 35 feet," Brown said.

The ordinance would allow buildings as tall as 110 feet, or nine to 10 stories, if they meet a variety of requirements, including increased landscape buffering.

The council passed the ordinance on first reading Jan. 24 3-2, and had three workshops to collect more input from residents before Monday.

The only buildings that could be considered for heights taller than 35 feet in the Sawmill and Waterhouse districts and 40 feet in the Packwood district, all downtown, would be those combining residential with retail or commercial space. Only the residential part of the building would be allowed above the 35- or 40-foot limits.

The controversy that erupted after the approval of the seven-story Uptown Maitland West project prompted clarification of the height ordinance.

Since the city began considering changes to the height ordinance, residents have packed City Hall, the majority of those speaking out against tall buildings. Some formed a 35-Foot Fund to support a private lawsuit against the city for its approval of the Uptown Maitland West project. The suit is moving forward.

To be considered for heights above 35 and 40 feet, a project would have to be at least 100 feet from any existing single-family home, increase its required landscape buffers by 50 percent, including minimum tree heights, and participate in shared open space, stormwater treatment or parking for the downtown district. Applicants would also have to submit plans that would illustrate the building within the existing neighborhood.

The city's Development Review Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council would all have to verify that the project meets the requirements to allow additional height. The city would also notify residents living within 2,500 feet of the proposed project before the planning and zoning board's public hearing.